Neewer

Neewer Z1-S TTL Round Head Flash Speedlite for Sony

4.5 (312 reviews)
2W2600mAh

Even, natural light with round-head softness and 76Ws of TTL power for Sony shooters who need speed and versatility on every job.

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Overview

The Neewer Z1-S is a round-head TTL speedlite designed specifically for Sony's Multi Interface Shoe system, and it brings a noticeably different quality of light compared to traditional rectangular flash heads. The circular Fresnel lens produces a beam with soft, gradual edge falloff — the kind of light that flatters portraits and reduces harsh shadow transitions when bouncing off walls or ceilings. With 76Ws of output, 1/8000s high-speed sync, and full TTL metering, it slots into fast-paced shooting scenarios like weddings, events, and on-location portraits where you need reliable automatic exposure with the option to dial in manual control. The 28–105mm zoom range adjusts automatically based on lens focal length or can be set manually, giving you reasonable control over beam spread for different shooting distances.

In hand, the Z1-S is lighter than you might expect — the round head gives it a slightly top-heavy balance on smaller Sony bodies, but it handles well once you adjust. The 330° horizontal and 120° vertical rotation gives full bounce flexibility for ceiling and wall work. The built-in 2600mAh lithium battery is a genuine workflow improvement over AA-powered speedlites: 480 full-power shots with a 1.5-second recycle means fewer interruptions during critical moments. The 2.4GHz wireless system supports 4 groups and 32 channels, and while it locks you into Neewer's Q ecosystem for radio triggering, the optical S1/S2 slave modes provide a universal fallback. For Sony shooters building a lighting kit on a budget who want round-head light quality without the Godox price tag, the Z1-S is a compelling working tool.

Key Features

【Perfect Lighting Effect】The NEEWER Z1-S Sony flashlight features a circular Fresnel head, which produces a more even light distribution from center to edge, with softer, more natural falloff at the edges, providing a natural and stunning lighting effect. The color temperature remains stable at 5600K (±200K). The flash zoom head (28–105mm) can be set automatically or manually. And 2W LED modeling lamp has 10 adjustable brightness levels from 01 to 10

【Powerful Functions】Include 76Ws high power, TTL auto flash, manual flash, stroboscopic flash, optical slave modes (S1/S2), 1/8000s high speed sync, first curtain/second curtain sync, flash exposure compensation (FEC), flash exposure bracketing (FEB), modeling flash, and more. The flash can be adjusted from 0° to 330° horizontally and -7° to 120° vertically, giving you more flexibility when shooting

【2.4GHz Wireless Q System】 with 4 groups (M/A/B/C), 32 channels (1-32), and 99 ID (1-99), compatible with Q-S/QPro-S TTL transmitters (not included). The speedlight can also be used as a Master/Slave flash to control other flashes with a transmission range of up to 328’/100m (no obstacles). The light illumination is uniform and the output is stable, which greatly expands your creative possibilities for flash photography. Plus, it supports USB firmware update

【High Capacity & Fast Recycling】 The 7.4V 2600mAh lithium battery (NB-Z1) provides 480 full power flashes, 1.5s fast recycling time, and a flash duration between 1/300s and 1/20000s, ensuring an enhanced shooting experience

【Wide Compatibility】 The flash light is compatible with AK-R1 kits, ST-101, and S2-type mount (can be converted into the Bowens mount to connect more accessories), compatible with Sony A9 II, A9, A7R IV, A7 IV, A7R III, A7S III, A7 III, A7S II, A7R II, A7 II, A7S, A7, A7C, A1, A6600, A6500, A6400, A6100, A6000, A99, A350, and more

Specifications

Brand
Neewer
Model
Z1-S
Compatible Mount
Sony Multi Interface Shoe
Power Output
76Ws
Flash Modes
TTL, Manual, Stroboscopic, Optical Slave (S1/S2)
High-Speed Sync
1/8000s
Color Temperature
5600K (±200K)
Zoom Range
28–105mm (Auto/Manual)
Flash Duration
1/300s to 1/20000s
Recycle Time
1.5s (full power)
Battery
7.4V 2600mAh Lithium (NB-Z1)
Full Power Flashes
~480
Modeling Lamp
2W LED, 10 brightness levels
Wireless System
2.4GHz, 4 groups, 32 channels, 99 IDs
Wireless Range
Up to 328 ft / 100m (line of sight)
Head Rotation
0–330° horizontal, -7° to 120° vertical
Compatible Transmitters
Neewer Q-S, QPro-S
Modifier Compatibility
AK-R1 kits, S2-type mount (Bowens convertible)
Firmware Update
USB

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Round Fresnel head delivers noticeably smoother light falloff and more even center-to-edge coverage than traditional rectangular speedlites
  • High-speed sync at 1/8000s lets you overpower ambient light for dramatic outdoor portraits even at wide apertures
  • 2600mAh lithium battery provides 480 full-power pops per charge, significantly reducing battery swaps during long event shoots
  • 76Ws of power with a 1.5-second full-power recycle keeps pace with fast-moving wedding and event coverage
  • Bowens mount compatibility via the S2 adapter gives access to a large ecosystem of professional modifiers

👎 Cons

  • 2.4GHz wireless system is proprietary to Neewer's Q ecosystem, so it won't natively trigger or be triggered by Godox, Profoto, or other popular systems
  • The 2W LED modeling lamp is useful for focus assistance in dark rooms but far too dim to accurately preview lighting ratios
  • Build quality feels lighter and more plasticky than competing round-head flashes in the same price range, raising durability concerns for daily professional use
  • Zoom range of 28–105mm is narrower than some competitors, limiting tight beam control for telephoto work

Frequently Asked Questions

The Z1-S provides full TTL auto flash with Sony's Multi Interface Shoe system, covering bodies like the A7 IV, A7R IV, A7S III, A7C, A1, A9 II, and APS-C models including the A6600, A6400, and A6100. TTL metering communicates directly through the hot shoe — no additional adapters needed.
The Z1-S has a built-in 2.4GHz wireless receiver compatible with Neewer's Q-S and QPro-S transmitters, which are sold separately. It can also function as a master or slave unit optically using S1/S2 modes, so you can trigger it from another flash's burst without any radio trigger at all.
The circular Fresnel lens produces a more gradually feathered edge to the beam, which translates to softer falloff in your images — particularly noticeable when shooting bare flash or bouncing off ceilings. The light pattern is more even from center to edge compared to the hot-spot you often see with rectangular heads.
At full power (76Ws), the Z1-S recycles in approximately 1.5 seconds using its built-in 2600mAh lithium battery. At lower power settings, recycle drops well under a second, which keeps up comfortably with the pace of reception candids and dance floor coverage.
It is compatible with Neewer's AK-R1 magnetic modifier kits and also accepts an S2-type mount adapter, which converts to a Bowens mount. That Bowens compatibility opens the door to a wide range of third-party softboxes, beauty dishes, and reflectors.